Designed to feel like a true Leica in an entirely new form factor, the X3 concept aimed to create a camera that feels like your favorite instrument, always with you and ready to capture. Born from the frustration of never having a capable camera at hand and the lack of a viewfinder on phones, it distilled photography to its essentials: a compact body with a flip-open viewfinder, ergonomic grip and direct access to aperture, ISO and shutter speed. The concept reimagines what components are truly necessary to paint with light, suggesting a new way of seeing cameras and their role in everyday life. The X3 became my first point of contact with Leica, a moment that would eventually lead to designing the Leica Q and Q2, later documented in Leica’s “100 Leica Stories” book. It stands as a reminder that bold ideas can spark meaningful paths forward, both for brands and for designers.